If you just moved to our awesome city, we firstly want to say ‘Welcome’! Atlanta is a fantastic place to be any time of year, but especially in the spring. With everything blooming, and our awesome Atlanta weather heating up, we understand why people flock to us. With the great weather and friendly atmosphere, it is no wonder so many festivals happen in Atlanta in the spring! Below are just a few we at ForLease Atlanta would like to highlight for the month of April, in case you would like to get out and enjoy our warm weather!

Atlanta Dogwood Festival: April 8-10, 2016

Even if you do not consider yourself a floraphile, or lover of flowers, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival is a fantastic way to spend the second weekend in April. This 79th annual festival has it all: live music, arts and crafts, food booths, family-friendly activities and so much more. Bring the family, and have a blast at this awesome festival.

Georgia Renaissance Festival: April 16 – June 5, 2016

This festival spanning eight weekends is something you must do if you just moved to Atlanta. A fun blast from the past, this festival takes renaissance festivals to a whole new level, with shows featuring acrobats, jugglers, magicians, dancers, wandering minstrels, and more, it is a great time with the family.

Inman Park Festival: April 30 – May 1, 2016

Located in one of the most historic neighborhoods in Atlanta, the Inman Park Festival features art, a tour of homes, a 5k run, and a parade. The event also includes children’s activities, live music and dance featuring some the finest Atlanta has to offer.

Whether you are new to Atlanta or a native, we hope you get a chance to check out at least some of these awesome April festivals!

You just moved into a gated apartment complex on the east side of Atlanta. You are thrilled at the thought of being in the city, and settling into your very own place…then you turn on the local news. Not that Atlanta is any less safe than anywhere else in the country, but you become alarmed. You are not a homeowner, so you do not want to invest in an alarm system, but still you want to feel safe. At ForLease Atlanta, safety is a top priority, and if any of our clients feel unsafe in a property we recommend, it is a concern to us. Let us assuage some of your hesitation with some easy, simple things you can do to feel more at ease in your apartment, that do not cost that much.

Reinforce Your Door- Because apartment buildings are made relatively quickly, and everybody is trying to save money, many times the door as well as the deadbolt strike plate are not the best grade. Our suggestion is to get some longer screws, and replace the strike plate with one that is a little bit longer. This will make a forced entry much more difficult, and give you peace of mind.

Out Or In- Have you ever noticed which way your door opens? If it opens swinging out, this is a prime opportunity for anyone trying to break in to do it easily. There are some ways to prevent this from happening, without costing too much, and without changing the way the door opens.

Lighting is Key- The best way to secure your apartment is to make it unappealing so a burglar does not even try it. This is easily achieved with a well-lit door stoop. You can either install a motion detection sensor, to save on energy costs, or invest in a small light you keep in a window facing the door. Most apartment complexes would not mind a small alteration to increase security.

Wherever you are, it is always wise to be smart when it comes to safety.

Congratulations! You just leased your first apartment! You are now the proud renter of 600 square feet of space that is all your own…well, sort of. As you look around your empty space, you start to think about what to fill it with. Since it is not a large space, you may be concerned with overcrowding and may want to know how to most efficiently fill the space to make it not only appear larger but also, function to its utmost ability. Fret not, ForLease Atlanta has some suggestions!

Utilize Mirrors:

Mirrors are very tricky, and also very handy if you are dealing with a small space. Whether you group four or five small ones together to create an interesting visual, or use a large one behind a proportional piece of furniture, this trick has been around for years, and for good reason.

Ditch Drapes:

It is becoming more of a trend in all homes, but forgoing window treatments makes your space seem larger, as it lets in natural light, and opens up the space to the outdoors.

Pro Tip: Light colored trim will help this even more! By painting your trim a light color, and not having curtains, you can make the most of incorporating the outdoors into your indoor space!

Less Might Still Be More

Going with one larger piece, such as a couch in a living room, and accenting with smaller pieces will make the space seem larger if you do it with purpose. Using multi-purpose pieces will also help with this. Utilize your furniture’s functionality!

Whether you came to Atlanta for work or family, we hope you enjoy living in our beautiful City of Trees, and decorate your rented space exactly how you want it!

Deciding where to live is a complex decision. You have to decide primarily what type of living situation best suits your needs right now: renting or buying. You must also decide where, what amenities you require, on what you are willing to compromise, and how much you are willing to pay. Many other seemingly non-related factors may also come into play subconsciously, however, such as: If the person you first saw greeted you with a smile, what the grounds look like, how the office smells, and one thing that may be your determining factor is the management group.

Although commonly unknown, apartment management groups play a large role in your decision-making process. The office staff, employed by the management group, is often the first people a new tenant will interact with, so it is important that they are kind and accommodating. What happens then when a month after you move in, the apartment gets bought out by another management group? At ForLease Atlanta, we get this question often, so let us help you.

What changes?

The office staff: It will almost always change entirely when the complex is under new management.

The way some things are managed: The way you pay your rent, or the way you put in work orders may change systems, or maybe complete policies.

The way you interact: If you, as a tenant, developed a rapport with someone at the office, it will take time to develop a new relationship.

What stays the same?

Your lease: The new management cannot change the terms of your lease before it is time. They can alter them for the next lease, raising rent, changing eligibility requirements, etc.

You commitment to stay the full term: Because your lease agreement is unchanged, you are still required to stay the full term of your lease, unless you pay the penalty.

Welcome!

We at ForLease Atlanta want to welcome you to this beautiful and exciting city and assist you in locating the perfect property in your ideal neighborhood. Our professional agents are trained experts that will guide you through the local neighborhood nuances and assist in making your location selection fast, easy, and personal.